Across The North Fork

Across The North Fork

8x6, soft pastel

Camping in Cascade provides lots of opportunity to paint!  Especially along the river in front of our campsite.  I love how the late afternoon sun was hitting the side of this little outbuilding and its reflection in the water.   Such a peaceful little scene.

Sheep Herder's Wagon

Sheep Herder's Wagon

8x10, soft pastel

This painting is in preparation for the annual Trailing of the Sheep festival in the Hailey/Sun Valley area.  I'm looking forward to painting outside (plein air) with friends.  I'm also looking forward to learning more about the custom of bringing herds of sheep down from the hillsides through the center of the town (presumably for auctions and/or slaughter but we won't think about that!). 

We'll go out Friday morning to locate the herd...hoping for good weather and beautiful scenes to paint....or at least to take reference photos.

Autumn At Thousand Springs

Autumn At Thousand Springs

5x7, soft pastel

Day 25 of 30

It was a gorgeous morning to paint at a Thousand Springs near Hagerman Idaho.  The day was still cool (not like the 94 degree temperatures we had later in the afternoon).   Vendors were just beginning to arrive and set up their wares.  The festival this weekend should be fun...now we're off to paint the sunset. 

Waiting for Snow

Waiting for Snow
9x6, pastel

Day 21 of 30

This is a quick practice piece based on a similar painting by Barbara Jaenicke who's work I so admire.  I thought I'd practice a "light touch" and limited palette.  This was the result.  I'm still wrestling with landscapes...and whether I should do them or leave it to the pros...but it was fun practice in any event.

Scars Can Be Beautiful

Scars Can Be Beautiful

9x12, pastel

Day 16 of 30

Painting number 17 is another landscape.  This one is from the Sawtooth Mountains near Stanley, Idaho. Several years ago there was a devastating forest fire in this area. Forest fires are a common occurrence in the West and unfortunately this year is no exception. It's been a very sobering summer with fires all around us. Smoke filled the valley air in Boise for weeks on end.

I felt so lucky while attending the plein air paint-out at Redfish Lake last week.  There was no smell of smoke...no troubling fires nearby.  But driving home I was reminded of fires past, where we still see the ravaged hillsides struggling to recover. Burned tree trunks stand atop the landscape like a week's stubble on a man's face.  Unfortunately we can't shave the hillside and expect new growth.  We have to be patient and wait for Mother Nature to take her time.  

I saw this section of the mountains aglow from the sunrise and pulled over to admire the early autumn colors of the new red/orange undergrowth.  Scarred deeply yes, but oh so very beautiful.  A sign that fall is coming and these beautiful hillsides are on the mend.

Redfish Lake Boat Dock 2

Redfish Lake Boat Dock 2

6x8, soft pastel

                                                      

Day 13 of 30

I was asked to paint another boat dock painting...so here it is.   A tidbit of trivia, the boat dock was so severely damaged last winter that it had to be removed and rebuilt this spring.  I'm sure glad it was since it plays an integral role in summertime activities.  There is a gas pump station on the dock and daily shuttles back and forth across the lake carrying daytime and overnight hikers to trailheads on the other side...not to mention the kayak, paddle boat and marina sections of the dock.

Six O'Clock Shadows and Parking Zone

Six O'Clock Shadows

8x10, soft pastel

Day 11 of 30
I knew before the break of dawn that I wanted to get out on the boat docks early and paint the shadows of a group of kayaks.  I've seen them each day during this paint-out and because I like vibrant colors they've been calling to me.  There are many very good artists here and most are proficient at landscape painting.  Me???  I love landscapes...but you can only paint so many trees!

The second painting I squeezed in was finished just in time to submit in the show...it's called Parking Zone.

Parking Zone

7x5, soft pastel

Little Redfish Lake

Little Redfish Lake

8x10, soft pastel

Day 9 of 30

Well, after my sleepless night in the cabin with a mouse I managed to live to paint again.   This is a partial view of the mountains bordering Little Redfish Lake near Stanley, ID.  I had planned to paint something else but instead went with my painting buddy Tina to this location.  It was a beautiful morning and the weather was perfect!  

Redfish Lake Boat Dock

Redfish Lake Boat Dock

6x8, soft pastel

Day 8 of 30 

We arrived at Redfish Lake a few hours early so my friend and I decided to get a bit of painting in before tonight's meeting. A very quick painting of the boat dock from the beach.   I'm not sure how this picture looks in daylight...we're now in our cabin and it's pretty dark in here! 

....correction....its now 12:30am and it's actually light in the cabin.   Why?  Because we have a mouse in here that we caught munching on a small bag of almonds earlier. We didn't actually catch him but scared him.  So now I'm a bit freaked out and have left my bedroom light on to deter him.  Last time we saw him he had scurried under the empty bed next to mine.  So of course the light is going to stay on all night.  I would go sleep outside in the car but I'm afraid of bears.

Streaming Sunlight

Streaming Sunlight

8x10 soft pastel 

Today was plein air in the park.  While we still have quite a bit of smoke in the area, I ventured out with my good buddy Tina and met up with the Plein Air Painters of Idaho.  Tina and I recently joined this fun loving group of fellow artists and I'm so glad we did!  We had a blast painting at the Katherine Albertson Park.  Tina even sold her painting on the spot.  How exciting is that?

There were plenty of good spots from which to chose.  The early morning light was streaming through the trees casting amazing shadows and turning the grass fluorescent green.  I couldn't resist painting this view.

Botanical Garden -1

Botanical Garden - 1

10x8, soft pastel

Last week I attended my very first plein air "paint out" with the Plein Air Painters of Idaho aka PAPI along with my friend Tina.   I should say we attempted to paint out....but mostly, we got soaking wet and cold each day...freezing cold.   Since we are both pastelist we didn't paint much but took quite a few reference photos and attended a short workshop.  This is my one and only painting for that event.  I was going to "finish it" when I got home but decided to leave it "as is" so I can consider it a 100% plein air painting...a benchmark for future plein air paintings.

Oh yes....I didn't mention that I also broke my camera because of all the rain (guess I need a waterproof one).   And then THIS happened...(note to self...don't take your very best pastels outside to paint).  It was a very expensive plein air event for me...but fun anyway!

Hyde Park - Dining On The Patio

Hyde Park - Dining On The Patio

9x12, soft pastel

The best part of a hot summer day is dining out on a patio...especially at a restaurant where I don't have to cook or do the dishes.  Heavenly!  This is the 13th Street Pub & Grill at Hyde Park in Boise.  The patio misters were going full blast on this particular day...cooling the diners just so.  I think I'm ready for the return of summer!

The Village - Sur la Table

Sur la Table

8x6, soft pastel 

This week I had planned on painting 3 paintings....but "the best laid plans of mice and men often go astray".   Final fall cleanup with a trip to the dump and snow today.  Both of those events changed my mind for me.  Sometimes, you just gotta just go with the flow.     

I did get this little piece finished...Sur la Table in The Village at Meridian.  I love the colorful flowers and how peaceful it is during the early morning hours, for a time, uninterrupted by shoppers.  

The Village - Walking The Dog

Walking The Dog

6x8 soft pastel

This is the second in a series of scenes at The Village in Meridian. This painting is of the window display at Charming Charlie's. It's a colorful place...I especially love the black and white awnings and the sign painted on the window "We ❤️ Handbags". You just can't resist stopping by and taking a look at all the goodies within...even when you're supposed to be walking the dog. 

Roadside Barn 2

Roadside Barn 

6x8, soft pastel 

Today I had enough time to refine a painting of the Roadside Barn (painted in Sept). I don't think I helped it much if any...oh well.

I also started another painting of a scene at The Village located in Meridian, Id.   The patio at Twigs is a perfect start to a series of Meridian cityscapes I hope to do this winter.  I've been busy taking photos and narrowing down a few...now, I can finally get down to actually painting them.

The Patio At Twigs...Work in Progress 

September Sky

September Sky

6x8, soft pastel 

Today is day 19 in the 30 in 30 challenge.  This is painting #20.  I felt the need yesterday to get a little ahead of the curve and post two pictures...having a bit of a cushion is easier on my psyche!  The challenge had been fun...but painful...exhilarating...but exhausting...rewarding...but defeating...and at the end of the day...satisfying.  The most satisfying aspect for me is being able to (very humbly) get out of my comfort zone and practice, practice, practice. 

Earlier in the month I declared to you (assuming there is someone out there reading this)...I declared that I am definitely not a landscape artist.   Then I reflected on that statement and told myself..."Hey!  Now is the time to force yourself to try and grow a bit and not accept defeat or hide behind an excuse!"   So, I've stayed in my "discomfort zone"...I've committed to myself to trying skies, earth, water etc. for the final two weeks of the challenge.  So...this is "September Sky".  A typical Idaho scene that my mind conjured up...but one that I'm sure I've seen over the years while travelling around the state...most likely on a fly fishing trip with my husband.  

Idaho Sunset

Idaho Sunset 

6x8, soft pastel

It's true...in Idaho we don't get a lot of rain. We have more than our share of sun and blue skies throughout the summer months.  Many of us relish those days when the clouds move in and light up our skies! This was one such day several weeks ago...a beautiful sunset photographed by "jasonstwisted" and posted to Instagram.  He regularly captures the beauty around us and shares his photos.  Check out his work...a feast for the eyes!  

After the Rain

After the Rain

8x10, soft pastel

We had a glorious early morning rain yesterday followed by a gorgeous cloudy sky...so I tried to capture it in today's painting. Have a beautiful day!!!  

Roadside Barn

Roadside Barn 

6x8, soft pastel

This was my first attempt at plein air. I went with a painting buddy a couple miles out of town to a location where I knew there were two beautiful old barns. At least they were there a month ago.  Sadly, they were torn down.  How can a couple barns be there for decades...maybe a century and then, just gone?  So, we drove around and quickly found plenty of other barns to choose from. That's rural Idaho for you.